If you install adb somewhere and try to run it, you get the an error stating “Insufficent permissions”. So we need to setup a couple of steps to get adb ready to work on Linux with our device.

1. Install Android SDK (Instructions found elsewhere)
First install Android SDK to someplace and set its path in ~/,bashrc

2. Setup path to adb
Edit bashrc and add the following line after the normal PATH statement:

PATH=$PATH:/pathto_adb

Set paths like this:

kate ~/.bashrc

Eg:

PATH=$PATH:~/android/sdk:~/android/android-ndk-r6b:~/android/sdk/tools:~/android/sdk/platform-tools:~/android/android-ndk-r6b/toolchains/arm-linux-androideabi-4.4.3/prebuilt/linux-x86/bin:~/android/android-ndk-r6b/toolchains/arm-linux-androideabi-4.4.3/prebuilt/linux-x86/arm-linux-androideabi/bin[/code]
3. set up permissions
On Android Lollipop, you need to enable adb from Developer options:
First enable developer mode, by clicking on build version in About menu multiple times.
Next, under Debugging>Android debugging, toggle it on.

0bb4:0ff9[/code]
N.B: The ID 0bb4:0c87 (or 0bb4:0ff9 depending on the PC) is unique for the Desire. So you can just as well copy and paste into the permissions file.
For a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, it is:

On Ubuntu 16.04, and my Oneplus One all of this is no longer necessary. The steps are:
sudo apt install android-tools-adb
OPO:
Connect phone in MTP mode.
Developer options (enable it by multi-tapping About:Android version) > Android debugging: On
Accept the “Trust computer” dialog
Test with

adb devices

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Joel G Mathew

Joel G Mathew, known in tech circles by the pseudonym Droidzone, is an Android and Linux enthusiast.
His favorite pastime is grappling with GNU compilers, discovering newer Linux secrets, writing scripts, hacking roms, and programs (nothing illegal), reading, blogging. and testing out the latest gadgets.
When away from the tech world, Joel is a practising ENT Surgeon.